Author: Parris (modem-11-112-60-62.vip.uk.com)
Date: 06-15-2001 13:27
Of course, however I hope that the A.I. group is also of use as it is a means for all Atari users to actively assist the entire Atari community. It is a new forum for discussion, but that should not discount it. Please take a look, and if you wish, take part.
On reflection there is very little for Atari users within the text below...
------------------------------
Most of this information has become commonly available / known since
I started looking for it... Here it is however, officially from
Infogrames. I'd like to point out that at this stage it would be
better that no rogue Atari fans should attempt to contact the people
mentioned within the Press releases. A) because we need to discuss
this further b) as I'm aware that these people ARE NOT responsible
for the ATARI side of things c) It isn't very polite...
I think that most of us will need to print this off and read OFF-LINE
as it is fairly in depth...
Anyone willing to pick this one and see what Infogrames ACTUALLY own
that relates to ATARI?
Parris.
-------------------------------------------------------
INFOGRAMES ENTERTAINMENT TO ACQUIRE
HASBRO INTERACTIVE AND GAMES.COM
Will Gain Rights to Develop and Publish Interactive Games Based on
Current and Future Hasbro Properties Through Long-Term Licensing
Agreement
LYON, FRANCE, PAWTUCKET, RI, December 6, 2000 -- Infogrames
Entertainment SA (Euronext 5257) and Hasbro, Inc. (NYSE:HAS) jointly
announced today that they have entered into a strategic agreement,
creating one of the foremost powerhouses in the mass market digital
interactive entertainment world. The agreement is comprised of three
main elements, including the Infogrames acquisition of Hasbro
Interactive; a long-term licensing agreement giving Infogrames
exclusive rights to develop and publish digital interactive games
based on current and future Hasbro properties on all existing and
future digital interactive formats; and the acquisition of Games.com.
Infogrames will purchase 100% of the common stock of Hasbro
Interactive and Games.com for $100 million – comprised of $95 million
in Infogrames Entertainment SA securities (approximately 4.5 million
common shares) and $5 million in cash. In addition, Hasbro will
receive an annual guarantee from Infogrames based on sales generated
from the licensing agreement. The agreements are subject to the
approval of the shareholders of Infogrames, regulatory approval and
other customary closing conditions. The companies expect the deal to
close early in the first calendar quarter of 2001.
-MORE-
Infogrames Pg. 2
"Infogrames and Hasbro are truly poised to become worldwide leaders
in the digital entertainment market," said Bruno Bonnell, Chairman
and CEO of Infogrames. "Infogrames' external growth strategy
consists of three requirements: a willingness of the prospective
partner's management to share our strategic vision, a complementary
set of skills and products, and finally, value for our shareholders.
The Hasbro Interactive and Games.com acquisition meets these
criteria," said Mr. Bonnell. "Infogrames' access to Hasbro's long
list of well-known properties fits perfectly with our long-term
publishing strategy to become the leader in family entertainment. The
terms are beneficial for Infogrames Entertainment, since they have no
direct impact on the company's future investment capacity."
"This arrangement with Infogrames is a very positive one for Hasbro
on many different levels," said Alan Hassenfeld, Hasbro's Chairman
and CEO. "First, we have aligned ourselves with a premier player in
the interactive arena. Second, this strategic agreement with
Infogrames meshes with our strategy of reducing costs as we focus on
consistently delivering profits going forward. Third, this
arrangement will provide a continuing revenue stream to Hasbro over
the long-term through Infogrames' expertise in leveraging our current
and future properties."
The agreement is comprised of three main elements:
Infogrames Entertainment's acquisition of 100% of the common stock of
Hasbro Interactive, a subsidiary of Hasbro, Inc.
The acquisition gives Infogrames a catalog of titles based on well-
known properties, including:
· The MICROPROSE brand and titles, including the international
hit CIVILIZATION, FALCON, and ROLLER COASTER TYCOON, the number one
selling PC game in the US according to PC DATA'S latest report.
· The legendary ATARI name and properties, such as CENTIPEDE,
MISSILE COMMAND, and the historic PONG, which pioneered the video
game revolution.
-MORE-
Infogrames Pg. 3
The exclusive rights to develop and publish interactive games based
on current and future Hasbro, Inc. properties, including:
· The interactive versions of popular Hasbro board games, which
include MONOPOLY, SCRABBLE1, CLUE, RISK, and BOGGLE.
· The interactive versions of children's games and toys, such
as MR. POTATO HEAD, TONKA TRUCKS, ACTION MAN, MY LITTLE PONY, and
CANDYLAND.
· The massively multi-player game DUNGEONS AND DRAGONS.
Under the terms of the agreement, Infogrames gains the rights through
a licensing agreement with Hasbro to develop games based on Hasbro
properties for a period of 15 years plus an option for an additional
5 years based on performance, on all existing and future digital
interactive formats. Terms of the licensing agreement are consistent
with other traditional Infogrames' Entertainment licensing agreements.
These formats include: current and next-generation video game
consoles such as Sony PlayStation2, Microsoft Xbox, Sega Dreamcast,
and Nintendo GameBoy Advance and GameCube, personal computers,
broadband networks, interactive television, cellular telephones,
arcade, and hand-held devices (PDAs). In keeping with its global
multi-platform strategy, Infogrames will leverage Hasbro's unmatched
content by developing titles on a variety of platforms that appeal to
a global market.
These Hasbro Interactive brands, together with Hasbro's owned brands,
make up a catalog of more than 200 family titles that are being
managed by a team of mass market product experts who have helped
Hasbro Interactive succeed in becoming the third largest PC publisher
in the U.S.
Additionally, approximately 60 titles are currently in development,
including PlayStation2 and Xbox versions of franchises from HASBRO,
MICROPROSE and ATARI: ZOO TYCOON, MONOPOLY, MICRO MACHINES, TWISTER,
CIRCUS MAXIMUS, CIVILIZATION, and GRAND PRIX 4.
-MORE-
Infogrames Pg. 4
Infogrames will also seek out additional partnership opportunities
with telecommunications providers, media companies and hardware
manufacturers to bring these franchises to other platforms.
The long term licensing agreement combines Hasbro's expertise in
developing successful mass-market properties and Infogrames'
expertise in bringing top properties to the digital interactive
market.
Hasbro's catalog of games and toys will be strengthened by their
digital interactive counterparts, published and globally distributed
by Infogrames. In addition, Infogrames' titles based on Hasbro
properties will benefit from Hasbro's powerful marketing programs for
their games and toys.
Acquisition of Games.com
As part of the agreement, Infogrames acquires Games.com, an online
games portal launching in early 2001. Games.com has already
attracted over four million visitors to its site, with more than one
million people having already registered to receive information about
its launch.
At its launch, Games.com will allow visitors to play more than 30
online games based on Hasbro properties, some of which include
MONOPOLY, CLUE, SCRABBLE1, ASTEROIDS, and RISK. In addition,
visitors to the site can find news, information, tips and hints about
games featured on Games.com.
Visitors to the site will also have the ability to chat with other
players and participate in tournaments based on widely recognized
games from the Hasbro catalog. Games.com's revenue strategy includes
e-commerce, sponsorships and individual subscriptions. Infogrames
plans to extend Games.com to broadband users in the future.
JP Morgan & Lazard Freres advised Infogrames and Salomon Smith Barney
advised Hasbro in this financial transaction.
-MORE-
Infogrames Pg. 5
For additional information, Infogrames has posted a detailed
presentation on today's announcement at www.infogrames.com and
www.infogrames-corporate.com.
_______________________________
1 In the United States only.
Infogrames Entertainment SA (Euronext 5257) is a worldwide leader in
the interactive entertainment software industry. Headquartered in
France, the company publishes and distributes award-winning computer
and video games for the PlayStation® game console, PlayStation® 2
computer entertainment system, MicrosoftÒ Xbox, Nintendo® 64,
Nintendo® Game Boy® Color, Sega® Dreamcast™, Macintosh®, and personal
computer platforms, as well as interactive digital television
platforms, mobile smart devices (WAP, HDML) and in-flight
entertainment systems. Founded in 1983 by chairman and CEO Bruno
Bonnell, Infogrames has published many award-winning franchises in
its 17-year history, such as Alone In The Dark™, Test Drive®,
Driver™, Deer HunterÒ, Oddworld™, UnrealÔ, and V-Rally™. The company
is also known for its best-selling and award-winning line of
children's entertainment software from Humongous Entertainment®
starring Putt-Putt®, Freddi Fish™, Pajama Sam® and SPY Fox™, as well
as its successful Macintosh publishing label, Macsoft, the number one
publisher of Macintosh entertainment software. In addition,
Infogrames has a number of key strategic licenses including Warner
Bros. Looney Tunes™, Nickelodeon's Blue's Clues™, AM General Hummer®,
and Harley-Davidson®. Infogrames distributes its games in
approximately 60 different countries worldwide. For more information,
visit Infogrames' US Web site at www.us.infogrames.com.
Based in New York, NY, Infogrames, Inc. (Nasdaq: IFGM) is a majority-
owned subsidiary of Infogrames Entertainment SA and serves as the
headquarters for the company's operations in North America.
Hasbro is a worldwide leader in children's and family leisure time
entertainment products and services, including the design,
manufacture and marketing of games and toys ranging from traditional
to high-tech. Both internationally and in the U.S., its PLAYSKOOL,
TONKA, SUPER SOAKER, MILTON BRADLEY, PARKER BROTHERS, TIGER and
WIZARDS OF THE COAST brands and products provide the highest quality
and most recognizable play experiences in the world.
# # #
SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT
Certain statements contained in this release contain "forward-looking
statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995. These statements may be identified by the use of
forward-looking words or phrases such
as "anticipate", "believe", "could", "expect", "intend", "may", "plann
ed", "potential", "should", "will" and "would". Such forward-looking
statements are inherently subject to known and unknown risks and
uncertainties. Actual actions or results may differ materially from
those expected or anticipated in the forward-looking statements.
Specific factors that might cause such a difference include, but are
not limited to, third party actions or approvals that could delay or
increase the cost of implementation of the strategic agreement or
alter actions and reduce actual results; the risk that anticipated
benefits of the strategic agreement may not occur or be delayed or
reduced in their realization; and with respect to the online game
site initiative, technical difficulties in adapting games to online
format and establishing the online game site that could delay or
increase the cost of the site becoming operational; the acceptance by
consumers of the games and other products and services to be offered
at the site; competition from other online game sites and other game
playing formats; and the fact online game revenues may not be
sufficient to cover the significant advertising and other
expenditures required or the support, service and product enhancement
demands of online users. There is no undertaking of an obligation to
make any revisions to the forward-looking statements contained in
this release or to update them to reflect events or circumstances
occurring after the date of this release.
###
-----------------------------------------
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Contact:
Investor Contact:
Tom Richardson John Menditto
(408) 985-3132 (212) 726-4294
trichardson@u... jmenditto@u...
INFOGRAMES ENTERTAINMENT COMPLETES ACQUISITION
OF HASBRO INTERACTIVE
- Operations to Adopt Infogrames Brand -
LYON, FRANCE, January 29, 2001 -- Infogrames Entertainment SA
(Euronext 5257) announced today that it has completed its acquisition
of Hasbro Interactive from Hasbro, Inc. (NYSE:HAS), creating one of
the foremost powerhouses in the mass market digital interactive
entertainment world.
"The completion of the acquisition is extremely exciting for us, as
it fits perfectly with our corporate strategy of building the premier
publisher of digital interactive entertainment for the whole family,"
stated Bruno Bonnell, chairman and CEO of Infogrames. "We felt that
Hasbro Interactive was an ideal partner due to its lineup of over 250
titles, together with licensing access to Hasbro's 600 franchises, in
addition to our shared vision and commitment to shareholder value."
Effective immediately, Hasbro Interactive will utilize the Infogrames
name and branding strategy. Further details regarding the
integration of Hasbro Interactive into the Infogrames family will be
provided in the coming weeks.
The strategic agreement, signed this past December, is comprised of
three main elements, including Infogrames' acquisition of all of
Hasbro Interactive's assets including Atari and MicroProse; the
acquisition of Games.com; and a long-term licensing agreement with
Hasbro, Inc. giving Infogrames exclusive rights to develop and
publish digital interactive games based on current and future Hasbro
properties on all existing and future digital interactive formats.
Infogrames purchased 100% of the common stock of Hasbro Interactive
for $100 million – comprised of $95 million in Infogrames
Entertainment SA securities (approximately 4.5 million common
shares) and $5 million in cash. The deal was unanimously approved at
a general meeting of Infogrames Entertainment shareholders on January
23.
(over)
Page 2
About Infogrames
Infogrames is a major international publisher and distributor of
video games for consoles (Microsoft, Nintendo, Sega and Sony), PC CD-
ROMs, and Macintosh hardware, as well as all interactive platforms
such as interactive television, Internet, WAP devices, and in-flight
entertainment systems.
Infogrames is a global publisher of video games for the whole family,
with a catalog that includes popular franchises (Driver, Alone in the
Dark, V-Rally, Unreal Tournament, Test Drive, Roller Coaster Tycoon)
and many international licenses (Warner Bros.' Looney Tunes,
Paramount's Mission: Impossible, the Brazilian national football
team, Le Mans 24 Hours, and the world and European champion French
national football team).
Infogrames, led by Bruno Bonnell, distributes its games in about 60
countries worldwide with a particular strength in Europe and the
U.S., where Infogrames possesses an outstanding distribution network.
With its US subsidiary Infogrames Inc (Nasdaq: IFGM), Infogrames
Entertainment (Euronext 5257) has become a contender for worldwide
industry leadership with the recent acquisition of the interactive
assets of Hasbro, the American toy giant.
More on http://www.infogrames.com
# # #
SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT
Certain statements contained in this release are forward-looking
statements (rather than historical facts) that are subject to risks
and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ
materially from those described. With respect to such forward-
looking statements, the company seeks the protection afforded by the
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and other enabling
legislation. Statements contained herein with regard to the
company's business outlook and prospective operating and financial
results are based upon management's expectations regarding various
factors, which may be beyond the company's control. This statement
is not intended to identify each and every risk and uncertainty
inherent in the company's business, and should be read in conjunction
with the company's cautionary statements contained in its most recent
filings with U.S. and foreign regulatory authorities.
###
|
RE: Infogrames release details...